POSITION SUMMARY

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Inventory Control and Cycle Count Management

• Own and administer the cycle-count program, including annual count plans, weekly schedules, ABC frequency, high-value and high-risk items, repeat-error locations, and special counts requested by management or auditors.
• Ensure cycle counts and recounts are completed accurately, on time, and through approved RF/P21 processes whenever system functionality is available.
• Research count variances using transaction history, allocations, transfers, receipts, picks, shipments, adjustments, units of measure, lot information, and location activity before recommending an adjustment.
• Prepare complete adjustment documentation and route material inventory adjustments or write-offs for the required approval.
• Verify that inventory reductions or RF deallocations do not leave customer orders stranded; coordinate timely reallocation or escalation when available stock changes.
• Monitor and resolve negative inventory, zero-on-hand discrepancies, inventory in non-pickable or staging locations, unidentified material, duplicate locations, and inventory with questionable status.
• Maintain cycle-count records, recount notes, adjustment support, approvals, and audit evidence in the designated shared repository.
• Support physical inventories, external audits, financial-control testing, and targeted counts based on value, quantity, or business risk.

2. Returns, RMA and Reverse Logistics

• Own the warehouse returns process from receipt through final disposition, including customer returns, refused shipments, carrier returns, internal returns, vendor returns, and damaged or nonconforming material.
• Verify item number, quantity, unit of measure, condition, packaging, lot or traceability information, customer authorization, and stated return reason before inventory is moved or credited.
• Maintain controlled, clearly identified return and quarantine locations so returned or suspect material cannot be picked or shipped before inspection and disposition.
• Coordinate with Customer Service, Sales, Accounting, Purchasing, Engineering, and Quality resources to determine disposition: return to available stock, repackage, rework, hold, return to vendor, claim with carrier, or scrap.
• Ensure approved inventory transactions and customer/vendor credits are completed accurately and supported by documentation.
• Track open returns and quarantine aging; escalate items that exceed established service-level targets or lack a clear owner or disposition.
• Analyze return reasons and trends to distinguish customer-caused returns from picking, packing, product, documentation, packaging, carrier, supplier, or internal process failures.

3. Operational Quality Assurance and Process Audits

• Conduct routine and targeted audits of receiving, putaway, replenishment, location control, picking, packing, shipping, staging, labeling, and return transactions.
• Verify adherence to applicable FIFO, lot-control, product-identification, unit-of-measure, case-quantity, packaging, and traceability requirements.
• Review picking and packing errors, shipment discrepancies, receiving variances, customer complaints, and inventory exceptions to identify patterns and control failures.
• Quarantine questionable material and stop an inventory-related transaction when product identity, quantity, condition, traceability, or system status cannot be verified.
• Create and maintain inventory-control and returns standard work, SOPs, work instructions, forms, checklists, and revision-controlled training materials.
• Validate that corrective actions remain effective through follow-up audits instead of closing actions based only on stated completion.

4. Root Cause, Data Integrity and Continuous Improvement

• Lead root-cause investigations using transaction data, physical observation, employee interviews, and process review; document both immediate containment and permanent corrective action.
• Categorize inventory discrepancies and returns by root cause, process step, item, location, employee, customer, supplier, carrier, and system issue to identify recurring trends.
• Partner with Operations and system resources to correct P21, RF, item-master, location, unit-of-measure, label, and workflow issues that create inventory risk.
• Recommend improvements to slotting, location design, replenishment, staging, product identification, audit points, and transaction controls.
• Participate in cross-functional projects involving warehouse systems, inventory governance, process automation, data cleanup, and operational readiness.

5. Lead Responsibilities, Training and Communication

• Prioritize and coordinate daily ICQA and returns work in alignment with the Warehouse Manager’s staffing plan and operating priorities.
• Provide day-to-day process direction to warehouse employees performing counts, audits, returns handling, research support, or corrective work.
• Train and coach employees on inventory-related procedures, RF/P21 transactions, documentation standards, quarantine controls, and error-prevention practices.
• Document process noncompliance, training gaps, and repeat errors; recommend retraining or corrective action to the Warehouse Manager.
• Provide concise weekly reporting on inventory health, count completion, significant variances, open returns, quarantine aging, repeat errors, corrective actions, and required management decisions.
• Serve as the warehouse subject-matter expert for inventory transactions and maintain backup procedures so critical knowledge is not held by one person.

DECISION RIGHTS AND ROLE BOUNDARIES

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three or more years of experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, cycle counting, returns, quality auditing, or a related distribution/manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to research inventory transactions, identify root causes, and document findings clearly.
• Working knowledge of ERP and warehouse-management transactions; ability to learn and use P21, RF devices, reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and comfort holding others accountable to established processes.
• Ability to communicate professionally with hourly employees, supervisors, customer-facing teams, accounting, purchasing, and technical functions.
• Ability to work independently on the warehouse floor and manage multiple priorities with limited supervision.

Preferred

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, business, quality, or a related field.
• Experience with Epicor Prophet 21, wireless warehouse/RF systems, return material authorization processes, lot control, or industrial distribution.
• Prior lead, trainer, inventory analyst, ICQA, quality, or returns coordination experience.
• Experience with root-cause analysis, corrective action, Lean, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving methods.
• Forklift or powered-industrial-truck certification, or ability to obtain certification as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regularly works in a warehouse and light industrial environment with exposure to moving equipment, varying temperatures, noise, dust, packaging materials, and routine operational hazards.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods; bend, reach, climb approved steps or ladders, and access inventory at floor and rack locations.
• Must be able to lift and handle materials within company policy and established safe-lifting limits, with mechanical assistance used when required.
• Must be able to use computers, handheld RF devices, printers, scanners, and standard office and warehouse equipment.
• Must comply with all safety rules, required personal protective equipment, equipment-certification requirements, and inventory-control procedures.

ROLE EXCLUSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT